Expert guides unlock the secrets of the Cederberg at Bushmans Kloof.

overview

This romantic 15-day self-drive tour combines the very best the Western Cape in South Africa has to offer, taking in the highlights of Cape Town, the picturesque Garden Route, a World Heritage Site and the rugged beauty of the West Coast.

Kick off your stay at The Cellars-Hohenort in Cape Town's Constantia Winelands.There is so much to see and do in the Mother City, from a cable-car ride to the top of Table Mountain to cocktails in Camps Bay. On your second day, go wine tasting and ziplining over Constantia's centuries-old vineyards. You continue along the coast to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve where southern right whales dot the bay in season and African peguins nest on the beach. Then is time for malaria-free, Big 5 game viewing at Dwyka Tented Lodge and, finally, total rest and relaxation at Bushmans Kloof, a wellness retreat in the Cederberg Mountains. Guided mountain biking and nature walks take in fascinating rock art paintings dating back as far as 10 000 years ago.

A scenic drive brings you back to Cape Town via the rugged West Coast. This is an excellent itinerary for adventurous travellers who want to explore this incredibly diverse slice of South Africa at their own pace.

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1

Settle into historic Cellars-Hohenort

Africa’s 'Mother City' welcomes you with abundant gourmet and cultural attractions - as well as a double helping of natural beauty. Collect your hire car at Cape Town International Airport and make your way to the Constantia Winelands and your home for the next four nights, The Cellars-Hohenort. If you prefer to take an airport transfer to the hotel, your hire car will be delivered there.

Settle in and freshen up, before taking a strolling around the tranquil landscaped gardens.This sumptuous boutique hotel is home to one of South Africa’s internationally acclaimed restaurants, The Greenhouse, which has been selected in the World’s 50 Best Restaurant’s Africa category. Your Safari Expert will be able to suggest plenty of exciting activities in Cape Town, from visiting Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens to shopping for souvenirs at the V&A Waterfront.

Days 2-4

Fall in love with Cape Town

There is so much to see and do in Cape Town: catch a cable-car ride to the top of Table Mountain, sip sundowners on the Camps Bay's Strip or hop aboard a scenic sunset yacht cruise.

The Cellars is located in the Constantia winelands and on day two, you will gear up for a 'Sipping and Zipping' tour of the vineyards when you combine sublime wine tasting with a high-speed ziplining adventure!

On day three, saddle up for either a half or a full day's cycling through the picturesque Constantia Winelands, home to South Africa's oldest wine estates that date back to 1685. Peddling through the vineyards, you will have the backdrop of Table Mountain on one side and views to False Bay on the either. Pop in at whichever estate's take your fancy - perhaps being lucky enough to sample Vin de Constance, a wine beloved by Napoleon, Bismarck and Frederick the Great, at Klein Constantia.

Days 5-7

Meander through ancient milkwood

Your journey continues at an easy pace along the Western Cape’s pretty coastline. In less than 90 minutes' drive from Cape Town, you reach the holiday town of Hermanus and the start of spectacular land-based whale watching in season (July to September). Another 30 minutes from there, and you check into 5-star accommodation at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve for three nights.

The immense natural beauty of this area is framed by the lodge’s contemporary stone-and-glass architecture, its interiors as elegant and luxurious as the panoramic views are stunning. You are surrounded by the exquisite Cape Floral Kingdom, gulls twirl in the vast blue overhead and surf drums on the wild shoreline.

Discover the wonders of fynbos as the Grootbos guide takes you on a champagne nature drive through the park and a walk through an ancient milkwood forest to see thousand-year-old trees. During whale season, you may see migrating southern right whales with their calves off shore and close by, the nesting grounds of rare African penguins and noisy gathering of Cape fur seals.

Days 8-10

Encounter white lions at Sanbona

Three nights later, Route 62 beckons and you head into the Little Karoo to the beautiful Breede River Valley, a land of rugged beauty and malaria-free Big 5 game viewing. Your home for three nights is Dwyka Tented Lodge in the Sanbona Private Game Reserve.

Surrounded by indigenous flora, towering mountains, wild rivers and remote vineyards, Sanbona unites the elements that give the Western Cape its exceptional natural beauty. On game drives and guided walks you seek out the resident Big 5 and hope to encounter Sanbona's free-roaming rare white lions.

Days 11-14

Rest and recharge at Bushmans Kloof

Your last stop is at a World Heritage Site in the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains, a picturesque three-hour drive from Grootbos. Bushmans Kloof is a wellness retreat that delivers rest and relaxation in a glorious fynbos setting populated by zebra and antelope.

Explore on mountain bikes and on foot, your expert guide revealing the hidden treasures of this pristine wilderness, which include ancient rock art dating back over 10 000 years. Your guide takes you to caves where San once lived, where the rock still shelters the mystic artistry of these First People. If you visit between July and October, you may see this wilderness dressed in a riot of colour as fields of wild flowers bloom as far as the eye can see.

Day 15

Rugged beauty of the West Coast

Your final day on tour takes a last scenic four-hour drive along the rugged West Coast, bringing you full circle back to the Mother City. Spend your day shopping or relaxing on the beach, before returning your car at the airport and beginning your journey home.